Why I pivoted
The first person needed a reason to come back.
I thought about launching with one small group. That might have helped, but it still meant finding enough people who wanted to meet and would reply to each other. That was the cold start problem: the app needed a network before it could be useful.
I know how much better my life is when I read philosophy and history regularly. Friends told me they wanted to read more of it too. That didn't prove an app would change their habits, but it gave me something I could build and test with them. A person can get value from a reading even if nobody else has joined.
What I built
One reading and one action each day.
- 01
A full passage
I wanted people to read the actual writing, so each day has a passage, a short introduction, and more context if they want it.
- 02
One thing to try
Each reading ends with an action for the day. Reading and doing the action are marked separately.
- 03
More to read
I added other stories for people who want to keep going. They don't affect the daily streak.
I left the social features, AI council, and audio out of this beta. I want to know whether people will come back to read before I add more.
Read the full Day 1 passage ↗First three days · October 2, 2026
Three days in, I've already made changes.
- Shipped
Highlights and a journal
I added these so readers can save quotes and write down whatever they need to remember.
- Shipped
A clearer streak rule
After I added more stories, a friend asked if reading them would affect the one-per-day streak. I made it clear that they don't.
- Shipped
A challenge that works later in the day
I'd written one action as if everyone would read first thing in the morning. My friend didn't, so the instruction no longer made sense. I rewrote it.
- Next fix
Go back to Today
Once a friend marked the action done, he couldn't get back to Today to reread. That's the next fix.
- In progress
Rewrite the backstories
A friend gave me feedback on the writing style, so I'm editing those sections too.
What I'm learning
Eight people are testing it. It's still early.
I'm watching whether they return to read, do the daily action, and open more material. For the planned 14-day version, I want to see whether someone completes at least five of days 8–14. That would tell me more than a good first day.